Question Are there differences in time to cord separation and bacterial colonisation when using alcohol or water to clean the cord
area in healthy newborn infants?

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

A tertiary care hospital in Alberta, Canada.

Patients

148 newborn infants who were enrolled within 3 hours of birth. Gestational age was >36.7 weeks and all infants had an APGAR
score of ≥7 at 5 minutes. Follow up was 92%.

Intervention

Parents were shown a video on cord care that was developed for the study. Parents applied sterile water to the umbilical area
using a 20 × 10 cm Kendall dressing or applied sterile alcohol using a Webcor antiseptic isopropyl alcohol pad. 65 infants
in the water group and 71 infants in the alcohol group completed the study.

Main outcome measures

Time to separation of the cord, colonisation of the umbilical area, and umbilical cord infection. Colonisation was defined
as the growth of bacterial organisms which included normal skin flora, coliforms, and mixed faecal flora as well as potential
pathogens. An infection was defined as the presence of foul smelling exudate, pus cells, or a raised and reddened area of
skin around the umbilicus. Swabs were taken for colonisation before the first bath, on day 3, and the day the cord separated.
The final 2 swabs were generally taken at home. The swab was taken at the base of the …